Wrench.



No. 634,I75. Patented Oct. 3, I899.

R. L. LEVIN. WRENCH. (Applicgtion filed Apr. c; 1699,) We Model.)

a I J 6 =1 4 "m! (inventor,

UNrrEn STATES RUDOLPH L. LEVIN, OF MENOMINEE, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO J. O. JOHNSON AND A. J. SCOTT, OF SAME PLACE.

WRENCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent N0. 634,175, dated 001701081 3, 1899.

Application filed April 6, 1899. Serial No. 711,980.. (No model.)

To all whmn it may concern.-

Be it known that I, RUDOLPH L. LEVIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Menominee, in the county of Menominee and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wrenches; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear,

and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention has relation to wrenches, and more particularly to that class used for tightening or loosening the wire spokes of a bicycle-wheel.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, durable, and inexpensive device of this character which may be readily attached to the nipple of the spoke and which will securely hold said nipple while it is being rotated about the spoke for the purpose of tightening or loosening the same, the construction being such that the corners of the flattened or squared end of the nipple will not be smoothed or rounded.

With this object in view the invention consists in certain features of construction and combination of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed' In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front View of the improved wrench, showing it applied to a wire spoke and its nipple. Fig. 2 is an edge view. Fig. 3 is an end view. Fig. lis a transverse sectional view on the line X X of. Fig. 1.

In the drawings, 1 and 2 denote two levers, each of which is provided with studs 3, the

inner faces of which are beveled, as shown at 4t. These levers are pivoted together by a pivot 5, that extends through said studs. One of the levers is provided with a clamping-jaw 6, having a vertical clamping-face 9, and the other lever is-provided with a clamping-jaw 10, having a coacting vertical face 11. The outer side of this clamping-j aw 10 is provided with a beveled face 12, corresponding to the bevel of the two lugs aforesaid, and engages a correspondingly-beveled face 14 of a lug 15, arranged opposite the clamping-jaw 6. It is evident that when the lower ends of these levers are compressed, owing to the peculiar manner of pivoting the jaws, one jaw will be moved toward the other jaw, and. the faces of the coacting jaws will be brought closely together and will clamp everything located between them, the inclined faces of the lug 15 and the jaw 10 serving to relieve the pivot of undue strain. If desired, the jaw 6 may be provided with a stop-shoulder 16, which will limit the insertion of the squared end of the nipple. 17 denotes two lugs which are adapted to be engaged upon the opposite sides of the spoke and hold the device in place while it is being rotated around said spoke for the purpose of loosening or tightening the same by rotating the nipple.

To apply the device, the jaws are first opened and are slipped upon the squared end of the nipple until the stop-shoulder 16 abuts against said nipple. The jaws are now compressed and firmly clamp the squared end of the nipple. In the compression of the jaws the clamping-faces are brought together with their inner faces parallel, so that all tendency to clamp the corners of the squared portion of the nipple and thereby smooth or round the same is entirely overcome. This parallelism is secured by the peculiar manner of pivoting the jaws, and owing to the fact that one of the jaws has its face beveled and acts upon a correspondingly-beveled face of the fixed lug the strain upon the pivot is reduced to a minimum, so that there is no tendency of snapping the'pivot or bending the jaw.

It will of course be understood that various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a device of the character described, the combination with two levers provided with lugs the inner faces of which are beveled, a pivot-bolt inserted through said lugs, jaws carried by the upper ends of said levers and having parallel clamping-faces, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with two levers provided vided with a stud having an inclined face, and one of said jaws being provided with an in- I 5 clined face to engage said inclined face of the stud, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing wit- 2o nesses.

RUDOLPH L. LEVIN.

Witnesses:

HENRY W. PARKER, WM. 0. OARLsoN. 

